The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Abuja, Mr. Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo, over his reported directive that residents must support the All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council.
The party described the statement as a threat of forced displacement and an alleged violation of Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which protect citizens’ rights to freedom of association, residence and freedom from discrimination.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest and charge Shekwolo in court.
According to the party, the council chairman, as an elected official responsible for the welfare and security of residents, had no constitutional authority to tie a citizen’s right to reside in Kuje to political affiliation or voting preference.
The ADC also drew a comparison between Shekwolo’s alleged remarks and comments attributed to APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi during the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The party recalled that Fadahunsi was accused of threatening opposition supporters and was subsequently questioned by the police but released without being charged.
It argued that the alleged incidents, coupled with a comment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 29 that “all is fair in politics,” suggested a growing culture of impunity within the ruling party.
“If that is not what the President meant, he should say so himself, and he should say so now,” the party said, demanding that Tinubu publicly clarify that the statement was not intended to endorse intimidation, voter suppression, violence or forced displacement.
The ADC further urged the President to call members of his party, particularly Shekwolo and Fadahunsi, to order.
The party also appealed to the National Peace Committee to intervene ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that failure to act against political threats early could worsen tensions during the elections.
“We invite the Committee to speak, publicly and without ambiguity, while speaking still costs nothing but courage. If it waits until 2027, it will be issuing condolences, not appeals,” the statement said.
The ADC listed seven demands, including the immediate arrest and prosecution of Shekwolo, reopening of the case against Fadahunsi, preservation of video and audio evidence relating to both incidents, and a personal clarification from President Tinubu.
It also demanded that the APC publicly disown Shekwolo’s alleged statement and discipline him, while calling on the Kuje chairman to retract the remark and apologise to residents.
The party further called on domestic and international election observers to identify the FCT and Osun State as early-warning areas ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC maintained that Nigerian citizens should not be treated as tenants in their own country because of their political choices.
“Nigerians are not tenants in their own country, holding their residency at the pleasure of a ruling party. We are citizens,” the party declared.
